Many events scheduled to help ring in the year 2010

Wednesday

Dec 30, 2009 at 12:10 AM

The St. Augustine Record

Residents and visitors will ring in 2010 in a variety of ways Thursday and Friday including gala parties and, church services.

The Limelight Theatre will have a special showing of their current production "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. The event includes a pre-show champagne/hors d'oeuvres party and light desserts at intermission. Tickets for this special production are $50.

Call 825-1164 or go to www.Limelight-Theatre.org.

Blue moon

To celebrate a new year's Blue Moon the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum is offering two events: Sunset Moonrise on Thursday from 5 to 6:30 p.m.; and Moonset Sunrise Friday from 7 to 8:30 a.m.

Space is limited and reservations are required. For information, including pricing, go to www.staugustinelighthouse.org or call 829-0745, ext. 207.

Beach Blast Off

Kick off 2010 in seaside style at this special family- friendly, St. Augustine Beach event. Enjoy a blast of flavor, ice sculptures, Kids Zone and fireworks when several of St. Augustine's favorite restaurants serve up chili for tasting and judging at the Fire and Ice Chili Cook-off from 4 to 8 p.m.

After things cool off from the chili, the fireworks begin at 8:30 p.m. This display will delight visitors and help usher in the New Year. On the Main Stage enjoy live entertainment and bands, karaoke and the Family Friendly Dance Party.

Admission is free.

For information, go to the event's Web site at www.BeachBlastOff.com.

Jeff Allen appearance

Haven Horse Ranch, a St Augustine nonprofit, 501(c)(3) Christian horse ranch for children, is bringing nationally acclaimed and family-friendly comedian Jeff Allen to the area for two shows this New Year's Eve.

The evening's festivities will be held at Crosswater Community Church's brand-new campus in Nocatee at the entrance to Davis Park.

Seating is limited and tickets are available for both 6 and 9 p.m. shows.

There will be live music by Nick Yarborough and a silent auction and a refreshments counter between the two shows. All proceeds go to the ranch's youth programs supporting the riding camps and programs for local children.

Tickets are $22 in advance and $28 at the door and can be purchased online at www.havenhorseranch.org at the ranch or at select locations throughout the county, including Capital Retirement Plan Services in Ponte Vedra and Serendipity Gifts & More at the Town Center.

Call 813-5710 for information.

Scholarship ball

The traditional New Year's Eve Scholarship Ball begins at 8 p.m. Thursday at Flagler College by reservation only. Patrons will be dancing to the music of the Soul Operation Band and the Don Durkee Quartet.

This year's theme will be "Southern Gourmet."

The cost is $365 per couple and black tie is required. For information, call 819-6282 or go to www.flagler.edu/newyearsball.

Church services

* Christ Our Savior Evangelical Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod, 21 Milton St., will have a New Year's Eve divine service is at 7 p.m. Thursday.

* Mt. Olive United Holy Church, 971 W. 7th St., will have a Nightwatch Service at 10 p.m. Thursday, New Year's Eve.

* A Watch Night Service begins at 10 p.m. Thursday at St. Paul AME Church, 85 M.L. King Ave. All are invited.

* New St. James Baptist Church, 135 Rodriguez St., will be the setting at 10 p.m. Thursday for a Watch Night Service conducted by New St. James, Tabernacle Missionary Baptist and Shiloh Baptist. Prayers will be offered for a successful new year, peace, a turn in the economy and an end to the war.

New Year's Day

* The Kingdom Warriors chapter of Christian Motorcyclists Association will participate in the 11th annual Four Corners Ride, leaving from the Main Branch Library, 1960 N. Ponce de Leon Blvd., at 9 a.m. Lunch at the home of Barbara Dodson follows.

* The St. Augustine Karma Kagyu Study Group invites the public to the annual non-denominational offering of lamps and aspiration prayers for world peace.

Discovery Yoga, 3 Davis St., has offered its facility to host this event. Doors will open at 6:45 a.m., and beginning at 7 a.m. New Year's Day, participants will chant prayers written especially for the First Light, Aspiration Prayers for World Peace Ceremony by His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, and place lighted candles on the shrine. In this way, participants may symbolically add the light of their prayers and aspirations to the light of the sun which, like the Buddhist concept of loving kindness and compassion, shines equally on all beings without discrimination.

These prayers will begin at sunrise on Friday at the International Date Line and follow the course of the sun westward around the world. Thus, participants here will join people from all parts of the globe in generating compassion and in offering prayers for world peace and harmony at the first light of the Western New Year.

An hour-long service is planned here consisting of meditation, chanting the prayers for world peace, and lighting candles. After a tea break the session will continue with chanting the Chenrezig liturgy, a traditional practice of engendering compassion that allows the practitioner to develop an unconditional empathy toward all sentient beings.

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